Participants are being sought for a pilot study that will try to determine the effect of natural-gas drilling on air quality in Carroll and surrounding counties.

The study will be conducted by researchers from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Oregon State University. It is being paid for by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a part of the National Institutes of Health.

The study will have two components: stationary air-sampling boxes that will be installed on private property near active wells, and wristbands that will measure all the chemicals to which individuals have been exposed.

Erin N. Haynes, a professor at the University of Cincinnati's Department of Environmental Health, explained the study to members of the Carroll Concerned Citizens at their meeting Thursday.

"We're doing this for you, for your kids and your community," she said.

The stationary air sampling boxes will be installed in early February and will be up for three weeks. They can be strapped to a pole, fence, tree or building.

The devices can measure more than 1,000 different chemicals, including PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes), which can impact human health, Haynes said.

"Summary data will be shared with the community when data analyses are completed," she said. "It will probably take a year."

Asked how close the boxes need to be to a well pad, Haynes responded, "The closer the better. One hundred feet away would be awesome."

Researchers are looking for landowners in Carroll County and surrounding counties willing to give permission to have air samplers placed on their property. She said 18 landowners have already signed up.

Participants will be provided with results from the air sampler on their property.

The wristbands will be distributed at a later date. About 25 people will be included in that study, she said.

Much more will be required from participants in that part of the study. They will have to keep a daily activity log for three weeks and answer an exposure questionnaire each day of the sampling.

Participants will receive their individual air results, which will be kept confidential, Haynes said.

"Ideally, those people who have stationary air samplers would be invited to get a wristband," she said.

Paul Feezel, chair of Carroll Concerned Citizens, urged members to participate in the study, whatever their stance on oil and gas drilling. "The more we know, the better we can all be," he said.

An audience member asked Haynes what are the expectations after the study is done. "We hope the science leads to an improved environment," she answered.

Haynes said she hopes to share the data with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which regulates oil and gas drilling in the state, as well as the energy industry.

Page 2 of 2 - "If we find something, we hope that they (the industry) would make a change," Haynes said.